Panthers Fan Fest!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? The Todd Family is!!!!! Today was the kickoff to Panthers football season with Fan Fest. We arrived around 9:45 - grabbed a few freebies, and headed inside the stadium to find some much needed shade. We found that in the end zone! A few friends joined us (we appreciate your patience with the wiggle worm!) and we enjoyed the practice! Alex clapped when the music was playing - I think that was his favorite part - although Scotty will tell you his favorite part was the TopCats Cheerleaders.


We tried to get Alex's face painted, but he didn't want any of that. Instead he wanted Pepsi and Pork BBQ. A true southern boy. He got the BBQ but not the Pepsi.


It was a fun event...not mind blowing fun...but for free, it was worth the drive. Melanie - thanks for sharing some of your pictures with us!











Alex sees how big the football players are and knows that take a lot of work so he got started on his pull ups right away!




Although this is a little blurry - this is one of my favorites of the day. My two boys watching football together. I have a feeling Ill see a lot of this in the future.










Alex checking out Sam Mills. One of the great Panthers Legends both on the field and off.




This is what 2 hours in the 95 degree heat will do to a little football player.

The Playroom

Its been a long time coming that Alex has his own space. We have been gradually working at a playroom and this weekend dove head first into really getting it started. All we have left to really do is some kid friendly artwork and a new TV. The one we have in there is so old the DVD player wont even hook up to it! So its useless now. The only other plans we have are to get a corner TV stand with a new TV and Im thinking of doing a boat theme for decor (never mind the big igloo tent). But the colors, the reds, blues, yellows remind me of nautical....so thats what we are thinking of doing.

The big black thing is our Ikea futon. Its pretty darn comfy and I wish they had other color covers but all they had was black or white...so needless to say playroom = black. Alex loves this space and anytime we are upstairs he heads straight for his playroom.

Rub-a-dub-dub 2 men in a tub

And like that...

My son no longer wants a bottle. I packed up all his bottles (left two out in case of emergencies) tonight in a box and it made my heart sad knowing that I no longer need to hold my baby in my arms while he eats, he no longer needs me to hold his bottle for him, and he can do it on his own...

Traveling Todd-ler

So Alex and I packed up and headed with my parents (PawPaw and Granny) to the beach to see my Nana. Alex did sooo good in the car both ways. Its such a blessing because there is nothing worse than a screaming toddler in a car with no escape route.

I was telling Mom about Alex and how he is learning sign language at Daycare and so we really started paying attention to it. And WOW - I couldn't believe it - he knows the signs for "more" and "milk" and "bye". He is doing really well with these and uses them all the time.

We missed Scotty a lot. But we survived, and it appears he did as well. Now - he gets to wake up with Alex tonight and deal with him - we have at least 1 tooth coming in. Alex wouldn't sleep in the pack-n-play once he knew I was in bed in the room with him - so we shared a TWIN size bed the last two nights. The first night he slept sideways and I hung on for dear life, then last night he slept normally but he tosses and turns so much its amazing I dont have black eyes!

Things I learned about my son this weekend.:

1) He is like his father - never met a stranger. He waved at everyone.

2) He LOVES flounder

3) He LOVES salad

4) His new nickname is Hush Puppy because LOVE doesn't even begin to describe how much he really likes these things.

5) Tried Soft Serve ice cream - yeah not so much love there...in fact hated it.

6) Still doesn't like hats on his head.

7) He is not a baby anymore - he is downright refusing his bottle at night :( I miss this time with him, but he is growing up.

Saturday:

Sunday:

4th of July

We had a great time over the 4th - With Alex's 1st Birthday, Friends in from Baltimore, adult time, fireworks, it was a great Holiday weekend.





Mommy Drinking and Driving....hey we stayed on the sidewalks, no damage done.





Alli taking Alex for a stroll - notice the cup of mixed beverages....this was the FIRST time I ever saw Allison and Weston drink more than oh say...2. Fun Times, Fun Times!




Alex, pimping the red wagon and the sippy cup. Thanks to Allison, Weston, Amanda & Jon for the killer Radio Flyer! We love it.









Sweet Sam - 9 weeks old. Look at her eyelashes! They are every girls dream!








Tailgating in the driveway!!!




CORN HOLE! What grace she has!





The love of my life, the official loser at Corn hole.

Happy Birthday Alex!

Happy Birthday Alex. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day yesterday to celebrate your 1st birthday - lots of friends and family came from near and far to help celebrate. Thanks to everyone for coming out on the 4th of July and making this a day we will never forget.

Just a few photos of the big day:































And a special Thank You to Allison who took ALL the pictures of the party so we could enjoy the party. She was Alex's personal paparazzi.